Story Tags

Peace, Love, and Rock 'n' Roll

Celebrating Woodstock 50 years later

August 15, 2019 marks 50 years since the first Woodstock in Bethel, N.Y. Revisit inimitable acts such as The Who, Jimi Hendrix and The Grateful Dead to celebrate the enormous cultural impact the “three days of peace and music” had on America and the world. From nonfiction tell-alls from those who had a hand in organizing the festival to young adult novels written from today’s perspective, there’s something groovy for everyone here.

Sick

Viruses and plagues and germs, oh my!

"What's natural is the microbe. All the rest--health, integrity, purity (if you like)--is a product of the human will, of a vigilance that must never falter." -Albert Camus, The Plague

Proximity to Power

A look at (mostly) presidents and their advisers

What is it like standing behind the head that wears the crown? The following titles look at heads of state and the people who influenced them. Four of them deal with U.S. Presidents and those who counseled them, their cabinet members in particular, and are listed in chronological order. The last title deals with a difficult English monarch and the courtiers who served him.

The Retro-Tech Revival

Visions of a Less Digital, More Fulfilling Future

A prevalent mythology of the future, pushed by the digital tech industry, assumes it will be increasingly digital. This trajectory is often thought to be inevitable and that therefore individuals and institutions have no choice but to embrace it. I find the books below stimulating because they reject this inevitability and imagine a future less dominated by digital media than it is now.

The Human Spirit

I am drawn to people's personal stories of triumph over adversity. I think often about the imagery and symbolism of the lotus plant. The lotus shoot has to grow through the mud of swamps and other still bodies of water. The unseen shoot struggles upward towards the light and when it pierces the surface, a beautiful flower unfurls. What these stories have in common is they explore the resiliency of human peoples despite the misfortunes that can happen in any person's life.

We've Got Magic To Do

American musical theater inside and out

Here in Washington, we’re starting to get into the summer: the 90 degree weather, the building humidity and the drawing call to the beach. The transition from spring to summer, however, reminds me of my favorite awards show of the season: the annual Tony Award ceremony. As you take your last opportunity to review the season’s cast recordings, catch up on show highlights online and make your award predictions, why not pick up a book about this incredible art form?

World War II Espionage for the 75th Anniversary of D-Day

June 6, 2019, is the 75th anniversary of World War II’s D-Day which ultimately led to the Nazi’s defeat. D-Day was a massive military invasion that was both supported and opposed by new and growing intelligence operations on both sides. Explore the intelligence efforts and learn about some of the interesting spies working in espionage during World War II with these books.

The Pleasures of Being Single

It’s spring, and love is in the air, or so the poets (and scientists) say. Look around and everyone seems to be holding hands or walking around with dreamy smiles on their faces. Except you.